January 2012 – January 2014

Self-Management Alliance

The Purpose

Managing one’s own healthcare, especially multiple chronic conditions, is essential in order to stem increasing healthcare costs in America. The prevalence of multiple chronic conditions increases with age and with risk factors such as a sedentary lifestyle. The Patterson Foundation participated in the Self-Management Alliance, a tri-sector collaboration created by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) at the request of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that explored how self-managed care might be approached to improve health.

Strengthening the Impact

The Patterson Foundation strengthened this work by partnering with NCOA as a participant in Self-Management Alliance meetings and by providing outside facilitation at a critical point in the collaboration.

FAQsClick on frequently asked questions below to learn more about this initiative...

Why did The Patterson Foundation support this initiative?

TPF was interested in the approach of using a tri-sector collaboration (government, nonprofit, and business) to address a very important societal issue. Through a series of meetings with NCOA leadership, TPF determined that the leadership, willingness, capacity, and culture existed to move this effort forward.

What is meant by “self-management”?

Teaching and encouraging people with multiple chronic conditions and their caretakers to manage their health to the fullest extent possible so as to avoid unnecessary visits to doctors and hospitals.

What was the objective of this initiative?

To create a tri-sector collaborative — government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and businesses — that would work collectively to approach the challenge of getting people to practice self-management of their chronic conditions.

Who worked on this initiative?

The National Council on Aging worked with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to create an alliance that included a number of federal government agencies, health-related corporations from the private sector, nonprofit organizations, and foundations. See list of partners.

Who can I contact about the Self-Management Alliance initiative?

For more information about this past initiative, contact initiative consultant Michael Corley: mcorley@thepattersonfoundation.org.